Never traveled to Europe before. Would love to visit Assisi, Italy. Optional side trip to Marseilles, France. Any suggestions? Best time to go, where to stay, how best to travel. We are a retired couple, looking for quiet, low key. Budget is not a factor, but do have some time constraints. Ideally one week, but not locked in to that. Any tips at all would be helpful. Thanks.

The distance between Assisi and Marseille is pretty big. Basically, Marseille would not be a "side" trip from Assisi. For transport options and distances, check out Rome2rio.com.

Any reason why you chose these two areas for your first visit? That may help us give you better suggestions. But for only one week, I would do JUST Marseille with day trips in other points in the south of France. OR, Assisi with other day trips (or even another base) to other nearby Italian locations, such as other points in Umbria or Tuscany (which Florence is part of), for example.

I think getting a couple of good guidebooks for these regions will serve you well as you make decisions.

Will you be coming from the US or someplace else? If you are flying from the US, the largest international airports in the vicinity are Rome and Milan but you may be able to find flights to Florence or Perugia (or transfer to those smaller airports from a larger one.)

I agree that a week isn't much time to travel to both Assisi and Marseille as they are not close to each other although rome2rio mentions a 5+ hour connecting flight between the two locations. From Marselle, you could likely take a connecting flight to an international airport and fly out from there.

I am curious about your two locations as they are not the usual first time to Europe destinations. Do you have family in both places or do those places offer particular interests? What do you plan on doing in Assisi and Marseille? Your reply might help with more suggestions.

I do recommend Rick Steves guidebooks for first time visitors to Europe as he has a lot of practical advice.

"... looking for quiet, low key."

IMO, Assisi (esp. in the evening) would come infinitely closer to that description than would Marseilles. Marseilles is the second most populated city in France. Assisi's permanent population is less than 30,000. I wouldn't visit either in summer/high season because of crowds and high temps.

If it was my trip, I would spend the week in Assisi (or another town in Umbria) and explore this region, preferably with a car for at least a few days. You can easily train from Assisi to Perugia, Spello, Foligno and Spoleto. There is bus service throughout Umbria, but it would be easier to use if you were to base in Perugia or Spoleto.

https://www.fsbusitalia.it/it/umbria...ni-umbria.html

An optional side trip to Marseille from Assisi is like an optional trip to Michigan from New York City.

Taking these observations and suggestions seriously. Very helpful. Thank you all.

We stayed at the convent Istituto Beata Angelina which is right across the field where the Basilla is located. The view out the window was superb. Great price, decent room. We booked thru monasterystays.com. It’s a.ways fun to tell friends/family that we stayed in
a convent !